Calderdale SmartMove – September’s Charity of the Month

In September, we’re supporting Calderdale SmartMove, a local Halifax-based charity supporting homeless and vulnerably housed individuals and families across Calderdale.

Here’s what they had to say:

We have a proven track record over the last 20 years for sourcing safe and secure accommodation for homeless and vulnerable people. We are the only provider in Calderdale of a Guaranteed Bond Scheme, working with landlords and social housing organisations on behalf of the disadvantaged. But finding our clients somewhere to live is just the start. We provide a full twelve months of 1-to-1 support for our clients to support their needs as well as providing them with life skills courses to prepare them for employment, education or volunteering.

Our goal is collectively, by working with partners, to work through our client’s difficult times and assist them to return to independence. SmartMove’s clients often have complex issues such as mental and physical health problems, learning difficulties, domestic abuse, autism, substance/alcohol addiction, etc and some have simply endured a period of “bad luck”.

When talking with clients when we are first introduced, there are three common words they use to describe their feelings. These are:

• ISOLATED • SCARED • INVISIBLE

Our belief is that everyone has a basic right to a roof over their head. We do not judge, we are determined to assist the vulnerable into housing and with them, look to improve opportunities to enter into education, volunteering and employment. If you would like to know more about SmartMove, or want to get involved, please visit our websitewww.calderdalesmartmove.org.uk

We are very grateful to Harveys of Halifax for making us their community Charity of the Month. We will be in store during September so please come down and find out about us and how we help the homeless and vulnerable people of Calderdale and look out for the collection pots throughout the store.